Daughter's Thank You Note

The last of our May birthdays is our middle daughters. This is a card I had made quite a while ago, but she found it and wanted it for her thank you notes.

Glad I still have the stamp set and the patterned paper, as both are now retired. It's a fun tri-fold card with a belly band. Haven't done one of these recently, so it was a nice change.

Really, it was a fast card, and I love that when I have to make multiples!

All Aboard

Are you starting to think about Father's Day yet? I am, and I've been adding cards to my Etsy shop for the occasion! With all the end of the school year, and start of the summer activities, it will be here before we know it.

I love this vintage train, along with this retro paper. This layout is from the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge.

A clean lined, easy card...perfect for a man!

All supplies SU:

Set: Happiness is a Journey

Cardstock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Black, Urban Oasis DSP

Ink: Pacific Point

Accessories: Vintage Brads

Technostamper's Monday Sketch

I have to tell you, I like things neat and lined up. I have no problem putting a circle on a card, but then layering squares over the top of the circle...now that was a challenge for me. Putting the square patterned paper behind the circle helped a little. At least the squares have something to line up with, LOL!

This card was made using Mary Jo's Monday Blog Challenge. Go over and check out her blog!

Another Father's Day card for my Etsy shop. This is using a long retired SU set that I still love. It's a great set to use for watercoloring, and for spotlighting, whichi is what this technique is called. The rust layer is torn using the Tearing Edge tool, something else I haven't gotten out for quite a while. It sure does make tearing a straight line easier though.

Have a great Memorial Day everyone!

I'm Way Late

I'm very late getting this card made, but I wanted to do it when I didn't feel rushed. There are so many outdoor projects to do right now, but today is Stamping Day!

This card is for Mary Jo's Monday Sketch Challenge. I'm sure you can still play along if you like.

The butterflies are die cut and layered with a dimensional. I used linen thread for the bodies and antenea.

The ruffled, chocolate ribbon is from a retired Ribbon Originals Set.

Someday, I'll become tired of making butterfly cards, but not yet. So bear with me :)



Here's a close-up of the butterfly:


All supplies SU:
Cardstock: White, Kraft, Baja Breeze, Urban Oasis DSP
(and wow, it just hit me, there are no stamps and no ink)

Have a great Memorial Weekend Everyone!

Thank You Notes

I think most, if not all, kids wish they could receive presents, and skip the Thank You's. But, I'm one of those "mean Mom's" who make their kids hand write one for each gift. Ah yes, I sure do remember complaining about that when I was a kid.

L. just turned 10, so he's right on the line of not wanting anything too "cute." Fortunately he loves dogs! As a matter of fact, he's getting a puppy from my sister and bro-in-law this summer.

The thank you note is simple, but perfect for a 10 year old, dog loving boy. I watercolored the image on confetti white paper. The caramel background is textured. Sentiment is "you made my day!"

Now, I just have to get him to sit down long enough to write the notes :)

I'm Back

I'm feeling so much better than yesterday. Must have been the weather! Unfortunately, the will to stamp is with me today, but the "way" is lacking. There are so many outdoor projects calling right now.

I do have a card to share though, and that's all that counts, right?

This is for my son's 10th birthday. I'm not sure how it came about, but I have a nickname for him, that still pops out of my mouth once in a while. It's "Bear," so this card is fitting.

The "grrreat" part of the sentiment came with the stamp set. The rest of the sentiment I stamp-a-ma-jigged to fit it.

I cut out the 3 sections of the bear and raised the stomach and face. He's so cute!


Here's a close-up:

Have a great day!

I'm not sure why....

But I am feeling unmotivated and uninspired today. There are things I should/could do, and cards I should/could make, but none of it's happening. I will get some stamping done later this week, so check back :)

Have a great week everyone!

Happiness is a Journey

As promised, one more Father's Day card. This one does not have a specific "happy father's day" saying on the front, but I can easily add that to the inside.

I really like this sentiment though, "happiness is a journey, not a destination."

This is a pretty simple man card, but I think that's the way most men like them. Again, I did sneak in a little ribbon, but not overmuch.

The stitching is faux, done with a white gel pen.

All supplies SU:

Set: Happiness is a Journey

Cardstock: White, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Blue Bayou, Pacific Point

It took me a few days, but as promised, here is another Father's Day card.

I find masculine cards harder to make than feminine. For one think, I want to "over" decorate them, and then they become to "girly." I did sneak some ribbon onto this one, but I made sure the colors were manly.

This stamp set works great for masucline cards. It's not specific to one hobby or animal like many masucline sets are.

The lock and key are both cut out and raised.

I have one more Father's Day card to share with you tomorrow.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I made few cards last week, and this one is my favorite. First, I love flowers and especially roses. They come in such a wide variety of hues and colors, and they smell wonderful! I really like the layout of this card too. I'm very linear. I love square corners, straight lines, everything lined up nice and neat, and there is lots of that going on in this card, but the roses just soften the whole thing.

The roses are done on the shimmery white paper. I wonder if anyone has come up with a name for that technique yet? It sure is fun, and has such a Wow factor to it!

Here's a close up of the roses:

Since I named this post, let me list a few more: chocolate (of course), (good) coffee--there is a difference, reds, blues, warm (not hot) summer days, stamping (of course, again). I'll stop there before I put you to sleep :)

All supplies SU:

Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Natural Beauty

Cardstock: white, black, ruby red, old olive, raspberrry tart dsp, shimmery white

Ink: ruby red, summer sun, pixi pink

More Rubber Boots

I don't know what it is about rubber rain boots, but I just think they are cute. I happen to own a pair of red ones too :). Mine are about 15 years old, but I think they are coming back into style as I've been seeing them in more stores.

When I saw this new set in Stampin' Up's Occasion Mini, I tried to resist it. After all, I hate to buy a stamp set just because I like one or two of the stamps. But as you can see, the stamps won and I lost.

I stamped and colored each of the boots, then cut them out and applied them with a dimensional. Aren't they just adorable! This is one of those cards that just makes me smile!

All supplies SU (except the buttons):

Sets: Scene in a Garden, Pocket Silhouettes

Cardstock: White, turquoise, real red, rainbow sherbert dsp

Ink: green galore, real red, tempting turquoise, yoyo yellow, pixie pink

Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch

Mother's Day is over, so I'm starting to make Father's Day cards for my Etsy Shop. You can't see it in the picture, but there is a sentiment in the bottom corner: "Thinking of you on Father's Day."

The layout comes from Mary Jo's Blog, for her Monday Sketch Challenge. Go on over and check her blog out, and add a card to the challenge if you like. I'm missing a piece of her sketch though. The star that was supposed to go along side the white square just seemed to interfere with the horses. It does look a little empty though, so if you can think of something to add there, leave me a comment to let me know.

I'll be showing you a few more Father's Day cards over the next few days, y'all come on back now :)

All Supplies SU"

Sets: Wanted, Thinking of Father

Cardstock: White, Creamy Caramel, Not Quite Navy, Western Sky DSP

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust

Accessories: Styled Silver Hodgepodge

Funky Daisy

I won this Daisy die cut last week, and couldn't wait to get it. Mr. Brown delivered it yesterday afternoon! Yeah!

I used the Pink Flamingo Designer Paper to make the flower. A few of the layers are raised with dimensionals, and then I lightly curled the petals upward. It's fun, bright and cheery!

The red background is texutered with polka dots.

All supplies SU:

Cardstock: White, real red, pink flamingo and bella rose dsp

Accessories: clear button, ribbon orginals pack (retired)

Happy Birthday To Me

I planned on spending most of the day stamping today, but somehow, half of the day is gone, and I've only made 2 cards. I am enjoying the day though. It's mostly sunny and warm. Nothing pressing to get done. Plus, I made myself a yummy cake that's loaded with fat and calories, and I plan to enjoy it with my family later :)!





I had to try this technique that's been showing up so many places. It's so fun! You stamp your image on shimmery white paper. Heat emboss. Then spray the image with water. Then with a aquapainter or watercolor brush, add color with re-inkers. The colors spread out and blend because of the water on the paper. Allow to dry and then cut out.

This makes a pretty impressive image!



All supplies SU:
Set: Fifth Avenue Floral
Cardstock: White, Kiwi Kiss, Bella Rose DSP, Shimmery White
Ink: Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Pixie Pink, Rose Red

Last Weeks Splitcoast Sketch

If you've read my blog for any amount of time...well, it hasn't been around all that long, but you know what I mean...you will know that I love a sketch challenge.

Usually, that's all I need to get going on a card. Give me a layout idea, and I'm good to go.

This is last Wednesday's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge. The butterfly was supposed to be a circle if you are following the sketch exactly, but I didn't :).

The butterfly is stamped on Parisian Breeze Designer Paper. This is a cardstock weight patterned and textured paper. A paper that I love. A paper pack that I am ordering more of! I drew the swirls in with a white gel pen.

The flowers are stamped in Baja Breeze with the Chocolate Chip highlights sponged on with a dauber.

All Supplies SU:

Sets: Upsy Daisy, Simple Friendship

Cardstock: White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Parisian Breeze DSP

Technostampers Monday Sketch Challenge 5/4

Another fun sketch from Mary Jo! Check out her blog to see the sketch and to play along!

This is supposed to be a square card, according to the sketch, but they cost more to mail. Since I am listing this card in my Etsy shop, I changed it to a standard A2 card.

My daughter had stamped these flowers on a magnet she made with the same fun, bright colors. I liked them so much, I used her idea for this card.

The card is pretty simple, so to Wow it up a little, I decided to use clear, square buttons along the bottom. I added a piece of designer paper behind each one to make them fun!

All Supplies SU:

Set: Upsy Daisy

Cardstock: White, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Rainbow Sherbert DSP

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Pixie Pink, Green Galore

Made by a 10 year old

My (almost) 10 year old son made this Thank You card today. He is artistic and likes to make cards once in a while. He always comes up with his own layouts and designs.

What I really love about this card is the fact that he cut certain parts of the image out and popped them up. It just cracks me up that he went to that amount of detail :)

And check out his cutting...he's good, if I do say so myself! Thanks for looking! He would love comments, I'm sure :)

Three Clovers Thursday Sketch Challenge

I'm a day late getting this card made, but I have valid excuses...bathrooms that needed to be cleaned, carpets that needed to be vacuumed...you get the idea. There was no stamping done yesterday, but I made sure there would be time to make up for it today.

This card is for Kerry's Three Clovers Designs Thursday Blog Challenge. This week she posted a sketch for us to follow. Check out her blog for the sketch, and feel free to play along as well. I omitted one layer of the sketch, as I just couldn't make it work with this card. I think Kerry will forgive me though.

The flowers are colored with a blender pen and re-inkers. I also stamped a second flower stem, and cut it out. Then added it to the original stem with dimensionals. I love a 3-D card!

This would make a wonderful Mother's Day card! All supplies SU:

Set: Friends 24-7

Cardstock: White, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood, Bella Rose DSP

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood